William Lloyd Garrison and the fight against slavery : selections from The Liberator / edited with an introduction by William E. Cain.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Contributor:

Cain, William E., 1952-

Series:

Bedford series in history and culture

The Bedford series in history and culture

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century--Sources.

Antislavery movements.

Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century--Sources.

Abolitionists.

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879.

Garrison, William Lloyd.

History.

United States.

Physical Description:

xv, 206 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

Boston : Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, [1995]

Summary:

William Lloyd Garrison and the Fight against Slavery: Selections from The Liberator provides a substantial and wide-ranging selection of writings from The Liberator, the antislavery newspaper founded in 1831 by the preeminent abolitionist of his day, William Lloyd Garrison. The 41 selections offer the opportunity to read and analyze, firsthand, a broad spectrum of Garrison's writings on issues related to slavery. An extensive introductory essay provides historical background on slavery and abolitionism in America as well as a compelling narrative of the events in Garrison's career. Also included are questions to consider when reading Garrison's writings; illustrations, including photographs of Garrison and other famous abolitionists; a chronology of Garrison's life; and a bibliography and index.

Contents:

Part I Introduction: William Lloyd Garrison and The Fight Against Slavery

"I Could Bring Them to Reason": Garrison in 1835 and 1863

Beginning The Liberator

From Colonization to "Immediate" Abolition

Abolition, Politics, and Violent Means

Slavery: The Historical Record

Morality versus Politics: Strategies for Abolition

Garrison's Punitive Style: The Language of Abolition

Garrison, Douglass, and Racial Prejudice

Endings: Garrison in 1865 and After

Part II The Documents

1 Address to the American Colonization Society, July 4, 1829

Garrison describes the dangers of slavery to the nation.

1831-1840. The First Decade of The Liberator: Arguments for Abolition

2 "To the Public," January 1, 1831

Editorial in the first issue of The Liberator

3 "Working Men," January 1, 1831

Editorial on working-class struggles.

4 "Truisms," January 8, 1831

Garrison mocks the key tenets of the proslavery argument.

5 "Walker's Appeal," January 8, 1831

Editorial on David Walker's pamphlet "Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World."

6 "Removal to Texas," January 22, 1831

Editorial on a colonization scheme.

7 "We Present Our Patrons . . .," April 23, 1831

A new masthead for The Liberator.

8 "The Insurrection," September 3, 1831

Editorial on the Nat Turner rebellion.

9 "Guilt of New-England," January 7, 1832

Garrison demands that the North recognize its culpability in allowing slavery to continue.

10 On the Constitution and the Union, December 29, 1832

An early critique of the Constitution and the Union.

11 "Declaration of the National Anti-Slavery Convention," December 14, 1833

A manifesto setting out the aims of the American Anti-Slavery Society.

12 The Progress of Antislavery, January 23, 1836

From a letter to Samuel J. May.

13 "Rights of Woman," January 12, 1838

Report on a Boston Lyceum debate over the equality of the sexes.

14 "Declaration of Sentiments Adopted by the Peace Convention," September 28, 1838

A description of the philosophy of non-resistance.

15 "Abolition at the Ballot-Box," June 28, 1839

Garrison urges that voters first undergo a moral transformation before using political means to end slavery.

1841-1850: "No Union with Slaveholders!"

16 On Frederick Douglass, July 1, 1842

Garrison's impressions of the former slave's speech in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

17 "Address to the Slaves of the United States," June 2, 1843

A pledge of the abolitionists' dedication to antislavery.

18 "The American Union," January 10, 1845

Garrison advocates "disunion."

19 "American Colorphobia," June 11, 1847

Garrison responds to a racist article.

20 Mob Attack on Douglass, August 20, 1847

Description of the hostility Frederick Douglass encountered on a speaking tour in Pennsylvania.

21 The Death of President Polk, June 22, 1849

22 John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, and the Compromise of 1850, March 15, 1850

An attack on two senators.

1851-1860. Decade of Crisis: The Coming of the Civil War

23 Review of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, March 26, 1852

24 Women's Rights, October 28, 1853

Resolutions introduced by Garrison at the Fourth Annual National Women's Rights Convention.

25 Uncle Tom's Cabin Reconsidered, December 23, 1853

An open letter to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

26 The Bible and Women's Rights, January 12, 1855

Remarks by Garrison at the Fifth Annual National Women's Rights Convention.

27 Disunion, June 15, 1855

Garrison explains how "disunion" should take place.

28 "The `Infidelity' of Abolitionism," December 21, 1855

Editorial on the strong opposition to abolitionism from church and state.

29 "Southern Degradation," September 19, 1856

Garrison describes how the institution of slavery has corrupted the morality of the white population that supports it.

30 Dred Scott and Disunion, March 12, 1858

Garrison condems the Dred Scott decision.

31 "Depravity of the American Press," September 17, 1858

Editorial criticizing newspaper coverage of abolitionist activities.

32 "The Tragedy of Harper's Ferry," October 28, 1859

Editorial on John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry.

33 John Brown and the Principle of Nonresistance, December 16, 1859

Garrison ponders the meaning of violent and nonviolent resistance.

34 Antislavery Progress, November 9, 1860

Letter celebrating the rise of antislavery sentiment in the North.

35 "Southern Desperation," November 16, 1860

The South's consternation over the election of President Abraham Lincoln.

1861-1865: The Final Phase of The Liberator: Garrison and Lincoln

36 "The War

Its Cause and Cure," May 3, 1861

Garrison insists that the true purpose of the Civil War is to end slavery.

37 "Why a Prolonged War," January 30, 1863

Garrison argues that emancipation and the enlistment of black troops will hasten the end of the Civil War.

38 Defense of Lincoln, May 20, 1864

Praise for President Lincoln's conduct on behalf of antislavery.

39 "The Late Presidential Struggle," November 18, 1864

Garrison rejoices over Lincoln's reelection.

40 The Death of Slavery, February 10, 1865

From an address by Garrison celebrating the Thirteenth Amendment.

41 "Valedictory: The Last Number of The Liberator," December 29, 1865

Garrison says farewell to his readers..

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-198) and index.

ISBN:

0312122454

0312103867

OCLC:

31765606